DLCC Adds New Races To Watch in 2018

DLCC Adds New Races To Watch in 2018

DLCC Adds New Races To Watch in 2018November elections present the DLCC with opportunities to continue win streak

WASHINGTON -- Since the 2016 election, the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee’s (DLCC) expertise and fifty-state strategy have produced monumental wins nationwide, including flipping 44 legislative seats and an entire chamber from Republican to Democratic control.

Today, DLCC Executive Director Jessica Post announced the committee is highlighting several more critical 2018 midterm races on its Spotlight Races page. This group of Democrats to know include candidates running in critical battleground states such as Colorado, Florida, and Iowa.

“As the DLCC continues to help set record candidate recruitment numbers and excitement for our level of the ballot grows, the DLCC is already on the ground in targeted states nationwide, working with our legislative leaders and partners to defend Democratic values and lead our nation forward,” said Post. “Since President Trump was elected, the DLCC and state Democrats have flipped 44 seats and an entire chamber from red to blue. Our Spotlight Races page has helped bring national attention to our candidates running in critical races across the country.

“We are proud to stand with these dedicated Democratic candidates who will be on the ballot in November, and with all of our candidates who have stepped up to run and grow the resistance at the state level. By fighting for Democratic values such as equal pay, affordable and accessible health care, equality, and a quality public education, the DLCC and the Democratic Party continue to advocate for an America where all families can thrive. Democrats are only 17 seats away from flipping eight chambers this November, and the DLCC is fired up and ready to win.”

State Democrats to know:

Christine Marsh, Arizona SD-28: An educator for over 25 years and Arizona’s 2016 Teacher of the Year, Christine has dedicated her career to serving the children of her state. She is uniquely positioned to be a fierce champion for improving and fully funding the state’s public education system following teacher marches in the state, and understands the necessity of an educated workforce to the future of Arizona. With Democrats only three seats away from flipping the chamber, this is a critical seat to flip this November.

Wade Carlisle, Arizona SD-06: A seasoned public servant, Wade has long served his community, both as Vice Mayor of Holbrook and as a city councilor for 13 years. He will bring his legislative experience to the Arizona Senate as he fights for rural Arizona, advocating for investments in the state’s roads and bridges, and creating environmental protections for public lands. With Democrats only three seats away from flipping the chamber, this is a critical seat to flip this November.

Brittany Pettersen, Colorado SD-22: While serving in the House, Rep. Pettersen sponsored numerous pieces of legislation to improve the lives of students and children, and used her firsthand experience helping her mother battle addiction to improve health care laws in the state. With Democrats only one seat away from flipping the chamber, we need this experienced public servant in the Colorado Senate.

Dafna Michaelson Jenet, Colorado HD-30: Rep. Jenet is running for reelection so she can continue the fight for quality and accessible health care for the Colorado’s most vulnerable. After flipping the seat from red to blue in 2016, she has already passed legislation defending the nearly 1.5 million Coloradans on Medicaid from waste, fraud, and abuse by Medicaid providers.

Faith Winter, Colorado SD-24: A firm believer in giving back to her community, Rep. Winter was elected to the Colorado House of Representatives after serving seven years on the Westminster City Council. Now she is running for the Colorado Senate so she can continue her record of fighting for paid family and medical leave, closing the wage gap, and helping working families achieve economic security. With Democrats only one seat away from flipping the chamber, this is a critical seat to flip this November.

Kerry Donovan, Colorado SD-05: An educator and rancher born and raised in Colorado, Kerry is intimately familiar with the issues that matter to rural Coloradans. A proponent of protecting the state's land and resources, strengthening the rural economy, and guaranteeing access to quality education and health care, Kerry will continue to be a strong advocate for her constituents in the Colorado Senate.

Anna Eskamani, Florida HD-47: As Senior Director for Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida, Anna has received recognition nationwide as a champion for women's health and equality. Her expertise in comprehensive women's health care will help move the Sunshine State forward. A lifelong Orlando native and the daughter of immigrants, her victory would flip the seat from red to blue and Anna would become the first Iranian-American to serve in the Florida Legislature.

Kayser Enneking, Florida SD-08: Kayser is a practicing physician and medical professor at the University of Florida – she is also a first-time candidate running to expand Medicaid, raise the minimum wage, enact gun safety laws, and be an advocate for all Floridians. Her decades of firsthand experience with America's health care system uniquely positions her to be an informed leader in the Florida Senate on health care issues. With Democrats only down five seats in the chamber, this is a critical seat to flip this November.

Matthew Wilson, Georgia HD-80: Recognized as one of the top young trial attorneys of Georgia, Matthew will use his experience working with legislators to pass anti-discrimination legislation to continue the fight for equality once in office. A former middle school educator at a Title I School with Teach for America, he also provides a fresh take on issues stemming from underfunded schools. If elected, he would be the second openly gay man to serve in the Georgia Legislature.

Shelly Hutchinson, Georgia HD-107: Shelly has a long history of serving her community, first as a social services and child welfare worker with the Fulton County Department of Family and Child Services, and then as the founder of the Social Empowerment Center, a mental health and social services outreach center. Now she is a first-time candidate running to continue her work protecting Georgia’s most vulnerable.

Jennifer Konfrst, Iowa HD-43: A lifelong Iowan, Jennifer's experience as a small business owner and former PTA president have given her a valuable perspective on the problems facing Iowa's working families and business community. After coming within 600 votes of flipping this targeted seat in 2016, she is ready to be a strong voice for working Iowans, advocating for affordable healthcare, new job creation, and education investment.

Eric Gjerde, Iowa HD-67: Eric is a dedicated community leader who serves as a special education teacher and volunteer Special Deputy in the Linn County Sheriff’s Office. He’s also a first-time candidate who will advocate for working families like his in the state legislature. An education expert ready to fight for all of Iowa’s students, he will put studens and parents ahead of special interests.

Erin Herbig, Maine SD-11: A fifth generation resident of Waldo County, Rep. Herbig currently serves as the House Majority Leader for a 74-member caucus. While serving in the House she has sponsored legislation to create paid family leave, establish a child care tax credit, and increase rural broadband access. Now she is running for the Maine Senate to continue fighting for rural Mainers and workers statewide. With Democrats only down one seat in the chamber, this is a critical seat to flip this November.

Linda Sanborn, Maine SD-30: A former family care doctor in Gorham, former state Rep. Sanborn is a tested champion for children, seniors, and Maine families. While serving in the House, she introduced the first bill to expand Mainecare in the state. Her election to the Maine Senate would allow her to keep up the fight for Medicaid expansion, job creation, and ensuring all children have access to a quality public education. With Democrats only down one seat in the chamber, this is a critical seat to flip this November.

John Brooks, New York SD-08: A veteran of the New York Army National Guard and an active volunteer firefighter for more than 45 years, Sen. Brooks has never hesitated to answer the call to service. Sen. Brooks flipped the seat from red to blue in 2016 and has since fought to make Long Island an affordable place to live and prioritized tackling government corruption. With Democrats only one seat away from flipping the New York Senate, Democrats must hold this seat in November.

Todd Kaminsky, New York SD-09: A former prosecutor, Sen. Kaminsky has made a name for himself working as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, combating corruption and fighting drug kingpins and other major felons, which earned him a "True American Hero" Award from the Federal Drug Agents Federation. Since his election to the Senate in 2016, he has brought this sense of integrity to Albany, sponsoring legislation to increase penalties for corruption and protect taxpayer dollars. With Democrats only one seat away from flipping the New York Senate, Democrats must hold this seat in November.

The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee is the only organization exclusively committed to electing Democrats to state legislatures all over the country and winning Democratic control of chambers. For over two decades, the DLCC has been working with state legislative leaders to invest strategically in state programs, which has led to Democrats flipping 44 seats since Trump's inauguration. The DLCC is building on Democrats’ winning momentum and continues to lay the groundwork for substantial gains in 2018 in statehouses nationwide. State Democrats recently scored critical victories in Missouri, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Kentucky, Florida, Minnesota, and elsewhere, while also leading the resistance against the Trump administration’s extremist policies. You can learn more about critical upcoming elections and follow DLCC’s Spotlight Races at races.dlcc.org.

For more information or to schedule an interview with the DLCC, please contact Mara Sloan at mara@dlcc.org.

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